U.S. Virgin Islands turn 100

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You’ll drive on the left side of the road in the U.S. The U.S. Virgin Islands are the only place in the U.S. where this happens, owing to the former days of European rule, according to the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.

PHOTO: daveynin, flickr

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You’ll be ahead of the rest of the country during part of the year. The U.S. Virgin Islands operate on Atlantic Standard Time, which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. But the territory doesn't observe daylight saving time, so those two time zones show no difference during most of the year.

PHOTO: prayitnophotography, flickr

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Point Udall is arguably the easternmost point in the U.S. According to the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, this area was named after Stewart Udall, who was the United States Secretary of the Interior under both John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. (Note: Technically, Pochnoi Point on Semisopochnoi Island in Alaska is the easternmost point of the U.S. because it lies east of the 180-degree longitude, according to U.S. Geological Survey.)

PHOTO: Mr. Usaji/bobo1522, flickr

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U.S. leaders in the early 20th century thought Germany might gain control of the islands. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and Secretary of State Robert Lansing feared that the German government might annex Denmark and secure the Danish West Indies as a naval or submarine base, where they could launch additional attacks on the shipping trade, according to the U.S. State Department.

PHOTO: Clark Gregor, flickr

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The Zika virus has been found in mosquitoes there. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mosquitoes there are infected with the Zika virus and are spreading it to people. The CDC lists a Level 2 alert for travelers, warning them to take enhance precautions. Other U.S. territories are also on the same alert level as the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the CDC’s highest alert calls for avoiding nonessential travel.

PHOTO: CDC Global, flickr

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Residents are U.S. citizens but can’t vote in U.S. general elections for president. Residents can vote in Democratic and Republican primary elections, but there’s still debate about whether suffrage should extend beyond local elections. The current governor, Kenneth Mapp, won a runoff election in 2014 as an independent.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Brennan Linsley

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Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro has ties and art in St. Thomas. The painter was born there in 1830 but eventually relocated to Paris permanently.In France, he helped shape impressionism with Claude Monet and others. Travelers can visit his birthplace and see some of his work there.

You’ll drive on the left side of the road in the U.S. The U.S. Virgin Islands are the only place in the U.S. where this happens, owing to the former days of European rule, according to the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.

PHOTO: daveynin, flickr

You’ll be ahead of the rest of the country during part of the year. The U.S. Virgin Islands operate on Atlantic Standard Time, which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. But the territory doesn't observe daylight saving time, so those two time zones show no difference during most of the year.

PHOTO: prayitnophotography, flickr

Point Udall is arguably the easternmost point in the U.S. According to the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, this area was named after Stewart Udall, who was the United States Secretary of the Interior under both John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. (Note: Technically, Pochnoi Point on Semisopochnoi Island in Alaska is the easternmost point of the U.S. because it lies east of the 180-degree longitude, according to U.S. Geological Survey.)

PHOTO: Mr. Usaji/bobo1522, flickr

U.S. leaders in the early 20th century thought Germany might gain control of the islands. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and Secretary of State Robert Lansing feared that the German government might annex Denmark and secure the Danish West Indies as a naval or submarine base, where they could launch additional attacks on the shipping trade, according to the U.S. State Department.

PHOTO: Clark Gregor, flickr

The Zika virus has been found in mosquitoes there. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mosquitoes there are infected with the Zika virus and are spreading it to people. The CDC lists a Level 2 alert for travelers, warning them to take enhance precautions. Other U.S. territories are also on the same alert level as the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the CDC’s highest alert calls for avoiding nonessential travel.

PHOTO: CDC Global, flickr

Residents are U.S. citizens but can’t vote in U.S. general elections for president. Residents can vote in Democratic and Republican primary elections, but there’s still debate about whether suffrage should extend beyond local elections. The current governor, Kenneth Mapp, won a runoff election in 2014 as an independent.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Brennan Linsley

Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro has ties and art in St. Thomas. The painter was born there in 1830 but eventually relocated to Paris permanently.In France, he helped shape impressionism with Claude Monet and others. Travelers can visit his birthplace and see some of his work there.

You’ll drive on the left side of the road in the U.S. The U.S. Virgin Islands are the only place in the U.S. where this happens, owing to the former days of European rule, according to the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.

PHOTO: daveynin, flickr

You’ll be ahead of the rest of the country during part of the year. The U.S. Virgin Islands operate on Atlantic Standard Time, which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. But the territory doesn't observe daylight saving time, so those two time zones show no difference during most of the year.

PHOTO: prayitnophotography, flickr

Point Udall is arguably the easternmost point in the U.S. According to the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, this area was named after Stewart Udall, who was the United States Secretary of the Interior under both John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. (Note: Technically, Pochnoi Point on Semisopochnoi Island in Alaska is the easternmost point of the U.S. because it lies east of the 180-degree longitude, according to U.S. Geological Survey.)

PHOTO: Mr. Usaji/bobo1522, flickr

U.S. leaders in the early 20th century thought Germany might gain control of the islands. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and Secretary of State Robert Lansing feared that the German government might annex Denmark and secure the Danish West Indies as a naval or submarine base, where they could launch additional attacks on the shipping trade, according to the U.S. State Department.

PHOTO: Clark Gregor, flickr

The Zika virus has been found in mosquitoes there. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mosquitoes there are infected with the Zika virus and are spreading it to people. The CDC lists a Level 2 alert for travelers, warning them to take enhance precautions. Other U.S. territories are also on the same alert level as the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the CDC’s highest alert calls for avoiding nonessential travel.

PHOTO: CDC Global, flickr

Residents are U.S. citizens but can’t vote in U.S. general elections for president. Residents can vote in Democratic and Republican primary elections, but there’s still debate about whether suffrage should extend beyond local elections. The current governor, Kenneth Mapp, won a runoff election in 2014 as an independent.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Brennan Linsley

Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro has ties and art in St. Thomas. The painter was born there in 1830 but eventually relocated to Paris permanently.In France, he helped shape impressionism with Claude Monet and others. Travelers can visit his birthplace and see some of his work there.

On March 31, 1917, the U.S. bought the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million. Today, U.S. citizens can visit the territory without a passport, people with American money don't have to deal with exchanging currency and travelers can get $300 this year for certain tourism activities. Here are seven other facts about the islands.